13:35 Punchestown

Wednesday 31 December 2025

All12:3513:0513:3514:0514:3515:0515:35

Celebrate The New Year With Tote 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 13:37 | Winning time: 4m 13.9s

Blue Moon Boy⁶⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: A Kinirons

40/1

Fairly useful Flat winner. Ninth of 16 in handicap at Galway (8.3f, heavy, 11/1) 65 days ago. Hurdle debut.

Form:

Direct Approach¹⁰²

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: Jordan Gainford| T: G Elliott

20/1

Fair maiden on the Flat for Donnacha O'Brien. Has joined another good yard for his hurdle career but Jack Kennedy seemingly prefers Wackestone.

Form:

Folk Warrior⁵⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: Gavin Brouder| T: J Nash

250/1

Once-raced maiden. Eleventh of 14 in juvenile hurdle at Fairyhouse (16f, soft, 66/1) on NH debut 57 days ago.

Form: 0

Immediate Effect⁶⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: Danny Gilligan| T: G Elliott

7/2

Useful Flat winner for Sir Mark Prescott. Should have a future over hurdles but jockey bookings suggest Wackestone is the stable first string.

Form:

John Dixen¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: Dylan Robinson| T: P J Rothwell

250/1

Twice-raced maiden. 300/1, eleventh of 12 in juvenile hurdle at Fairyhouse (16f, soft) 18 days ago.

Form: P0

Minella Boss^h²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: Phillip Enright| T: O McKiernan

14/1

Fair maiden on the Flat. Similar standard in 2 juvenile hurdles in recent weeks. Likely vulnerable for win purposes.

Form: 74

Mino Des Mottes¹⁷⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins

7/4

Won 8-runner bumper in France in July. Top yard has won the last 2 runnings of this race. Likely to have a big say.

Form: U1

Padre Bay^t⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: Tiernan Power Roche⁽³⁾| T: T Cleary

150/1

Fair maiden on the Flat. Tongue strap on for 1st time, seventh of 11 in juvenile hurdle (80/1) at Limerick (16f, heavy) on NH debut 5 days ago.

Form: 7

Saratoga⁷⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: Mark Walsh| T: P Roche

7/2

Useful Flat winner for Aidan O'Brien. A likely type for juvenile hurdles.

Form:

Stone Rulya⁷⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: Paddy Cody⁽⁷⁾| T: E Doyle

200/1

Fair maiden on the Flat for Ger Lyons. Hurdle debut.

Form:

Wackestone^p¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott

5/2

Fair maiden on the Flat. Better with each start over hurdles, finishing second of 12 at Fairyhouse (soft) 18 days ago. Cheekpieces worn on that occasion are retained. Should go well again.

Form: 432

Louie's Folly⁸⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 10-7| J: Daniel King| T: D Hogan

125/1

Fair maiden on the Flat for James Horton. Hurdle debutante who might be best watched.

Form:

Real Petite⁷⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 10-7| J: Danny Mullins| T: T Mullins| OR: 90

200/1

Thrice-raced maiden. 200/1, last of 8 in juvenile hurdle at this course (16.2f, good to soft) 78 days ago.

Form: 988

Forecasts

Mino Des Mottes (7/4), Wackestone (5/2), Immediate Effect (7/2), Saratoga (7/2), Minella Boss (14/1), Direct Approach (20/1), Blue Moon Boy (40/1), Louie's Folly (125/1), Padre Bay (150/1), Stone Rulya (200/1), Real Petite (200/1), Folk Warrior (250/1), John Dixen (250/1)

Willie Mullins has won the last 2 runnings of this so the vote goes to his French bumper winner MINO DES MOTTES, with confidence in his chance increased should the betting vibes be strong. Wackestone has been knocking on the door in similar races and should be thereabouts again. Saratoga and Immediate Effect are interesting newcomers to the hurdle ranks.